Emergency Ration Bars Compared: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
At a Glance
Not all emergency food bars are the same and knowing the difference before you buy matters. This guide compares the major brands of emergency ration bars (Datrex, SOS, Mainstay, ER Bar, Mayday, and Millennium) based on taste-test results, calories per serving, shelf life, and packaging. Also explains why these bars taste bland on purpose, the difference between ration bars and energy bars, why popular protein bars like Clif and Kind aren’t reliable emergency food, and which bar works best for which situation — vehicle kit, go-bag, or shelter-in-place supply.
Originally published October 2016 by Beth Buck. Updated June, 2026, with current product data, expanded comparisons, and new content.
If you’ve explored survivalist and prepper websites for any amount of time, you’ve probably seen those emergency ration bar thingies packaged in mylar. These bars are made by several different companies. They are all slightly different but are usually composed of some combination of flour, shortening, and added vitamins and electrolytes. Recently our family did a taste test on as many different brands as we could, to see which one was the best.
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Before I tell you our ultimate verdict, I will tell you up front, we weren’t crazy about any of them. One member of our testing panel described the taste as “shortening and horcrux.” It would be a little depressing to have nothing but emergency rations to eat for any stretch of time, but there actually are good reasons to have a package or two on hand.
History of Emergency RationsThe very first “emergency ration,” that is, a processed food high in nutritive value that doesn’t take up a lot of space, would probably be pemmican, a Native American creation made from meat, fat, and berries. Prepackaged bars first appeared toward the latter end of WWI, but field rations didn’t get to how we know them until the second World War.
Enter the D ration. I just love this story. When military officials approached the Hershey chocolate company about churning out field rations, one of the actual requirements was that it “taste a little better than a boiled potato.” Meaning, I suppose, that they wanted it to taste a bit on the “blah” side. The reasoning behind it was because they were so dense in nutrition, to eat more than the prescribed amount would be a hindrance rather than a help as far as the war effort was concerned. In this they succeeded — D rations were “universally detested for their bitter taste,” and were thrown away just as often as they were eaten.
Modern emergency rations also come with instructions on the package: “Eat one bar every six hours.” If they tasted like Lorna Doones, you’d be in danger of eating the whole package within twenty minutes. A bland taste ensures that you’ll be able to make them last.
What Role Do Emergency Rations Play in Survival?Datrex bars have written on the packaging, “Approved by the United States Coast Guard.” ER Bars also carry USCG approval and state that they are “specially formulated for emergency victims.” Knowing that the Coast Guard plays a role does provide a degree of explanation. Emergency ration bars are efficient, light, do not require any preparation, and are compact. The same cannot be said of nearly any other emergency food item on the market. This makes them perfect for stowing into a life raft in large quantities, or for delivering en masse to survivors of a severe natural disaster.
VarietiesThere are many different types and flavors available on the market and each has its own pros and cons. Our testing panel included three young children who have no sense of propriety when it comes to sharing their emotions. While there was quite a bit of comedic value in their reactions (mostly having to do with the bland taste, which as we have already discussed is a feature, not a bug), after some thought it was determined that no public good could come of making the children’s opinions known to the general public. Here’s a brief and objective synopsis of what there is and how they differ from each other.
Pros: Come in individual packets, which make for easy use. It’s the only bar on the market with a specific flavor. The taste is not unlike apple cinnamon cherrios, but with the texture of compressed flour.
Cons: A little pricier than other brands, and you have to buy them in a larger package, rather than individually.
Pros: Comes with multiple bars, each sub-packaged to keep them fresh over a long period of time after the initial mylar packaging is opened. Package is easy to open. Texture most resembled that of a cookie.
Cons: Claims a “superior coconut flavor,” but this claim was not based in fact. Has a strong shortening taste.
Pros: The individual portions are bigger (it is recommended to eat three per day) so the large size means you are more likely to feel somewhat full afterward. Package is resealable.
Cons: One big cake that is difficult to break along the scored lines.
Pros: Comes in individually packaged pieces.
Cons: I will admit that I liked this one the least of all, taste-wise. The main package is harder to open, and the outside plastic of the individual packages feels greasy to the touch.
Mainstay Emergency Food Rations
Pros: The taste is reminiscent of sugar cookie dough. Includes a hint of natural lemon flavor.
Cons: Not individually wrapped, all one giant cake.
| Mayday Apple Cinnamon | 400 | 200 | 2 | 5 years | Individual packets | Apple cinnamon | Yes |
| Datrex 3600 | 3,600 | 200 | 18 | 5 years | Individually wrapped inside mylar | Coconut (mild) | Yes |
| ER Bar | 3,690 | 410 | 9 | 5 years | Resealable zip package | Neutral | Yes |
| SOS Emergency Ration | 3,600 | 410 | 9 | 5 years | Individually wrapped inside mylar | Coconut/cinnamon | Yes |
| Mainstay | 3,600 | 400 | 9 | 5 years | Resealable zip package | Lemon (very mild) | Yes |
| Millennium Energy Bar | 400 | 400 | 1 | 5 years | Individual sealed bar | 12+ flavors | No |
Ration bars — Datrex, SOS, Mainstay, ER Bar — are designed for one specific scenario: you’re stuck somewhere, waiting for rescue, and you need to stretch a limited food supply over several days with minimal water. They’re dense in calories, non-thirst-provoking by design, and deliberately bland so you don’t eat them too fast. They’re not meant to fuel activity. They’re meant to keep you alive while you sit still.
Energy bars like the Millennium bars are a different product entirely. They have more protein, more flavor variety, and are better suited for situations where you’re actually moving, like evacuating on foot or working through an emergency. The tradeoff is that they can make you thirstier and they don’t pack quite as many calories per ounce as the dedicated ration bars.
For most emergency kits, the smart move is to have both. Ration bars go in your vehicle kit and your shelter-in-place supplies, situations where you might be stuck for hours or days. Energy bars go in your go-bag or get-home bag, where you need fuel for actual physical effort.
What About Protein Bars?Since this article was first written, there’s been a virtual flood of protein bars and energy bars on the market. So many that’s it’s confusing as to which ones would be a better choice for an “emergency ration” type bar.
Walk into any grocery store or big box retailer and you’ll find dozens of protein bar brands, like Clif, Kind, RXBar, Quest, Barebells, Pure Protein, and on and on. They taste great, they’re everywhere, and they’re tempting to toss into a go-bag or glove compartment as a food to have in an emergency, but are they a good choice?
The short answer is, it depends. These bars have a much shorter shelf life and aren’t packaged for long-term. Many of them contain chocolate, so right away, you’ll almost certainly have an issue with the mess that comes with melting. Over time, these bars will become stale, at best, and possibly rancid, at worst, if stored in a hot environment.
Emergency ration bars, on the other hand, are specifically formulated and packaged to withstand temperature extremes that would destroy a regular protein bar. They’re also vacuum sealed in airtight packaging, protecting them from oxidation.
Those protein bars are great for your purse or a workplace backpack or desk drawer — they’re great. You get a nice jolt of calories, protein, some carbs, which are all excellent as a meal replacement or a snack to keep you going.
Final VerdictIn the end, my family settled on the Mayday Apple Cinnamon bars as the clear winner, with the Mainstay Emergency Food Rations as a close second. However, everyone’s taste buds experience things differently. If convenience and practicality is more important than taste, then my recommendation would be the Datrex bars, because of the ease of opening the package and the convenience of having individually wrapped portions.
If you are serious about making emergency food rations a part of your overall preparedness strategy, I encourage you to purchase a small amount of each variety and embark upon your own taste tests. Holding a taste-test party will be helpful for children, because if they have to eat them later they will have the satisfaction of knowing that they had a hand in choosing what kind to buy. Emergency rations are quite a bit different from other preparedness food, so it is wise to expose the kids to it prior to an emergency.
Have you had any experience eating emergency rations? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments.
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